Slip and Fall Accidents on Icy Walkways: Premises Liability
Slip and fall accidents on icy walkways can be particularly dangerous because they often mean falling onto unforgiving cement. In the Pacific Northwest, there is a risk of slippery ice between the end of October and the beginning on March.
If an icy walkway on another person, company or organization’s property was the cause of your slip and fall accident you may be able to recoup damages* through a slip and fall accident claim. Slip and fall accidents fall under a type of personal injury law called premises liability**. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal rights.
*In tort law damages are an award – usually monetary – to be paid to a person to compensate for loss or injury. The types of damages awarded vary based on the city and state in which the injury occurred and the type of claim being made.
**Premises liability law is the body of law that makes the person who is in possession of land or premises responsible for certain injuries endured by persons who are present on the property.
Who is liable for slip and fall accidents on icy walkways?
While humans don’t control weather conditions, property owners are expected to make their property reasonably safe for visitors or customers to navigate. That means clearing up unreasonably dangerous hazards such as ice in parking lots or walkways. If a customer entering a store or the mail man walking to a house to deliver mail slips and falls on the property because the property owner failed to take reasonable care to clear dangerous hazards or to at least place hazard warning signs then there may be grounds for a premises liability case.
Determining fault in a premises liability case
In Washington, fault can be shared in a personal injury case. In a premises liability personal injury case the injured person is expected to have taken reasonable precautions when obvious hazards were present at the time of injury. Damages are awarded based on contributory fault law which says that the injured party may only be awarded damages proportionate to the percentage of fault contributed by the defendant and nothing for the amount of fault that the victim contributed.
Prevent a slip and fall accident on your property
Homeowners can reduce the chance of a slip and fall accident on their property by keeping sidewalk salt on hand during the cold, dark months of the year. Sprinkle a generous amount of salt on walkways the night before freezing temperatures or an ice storm are due to hit. Also ensure that outdoor lights are turned on or will activate with a motion sensor.
If you or a loved one is dealing with an accident or injury through no fault of your own, you have enough on your plate. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
